Bringing trench warfare home to Castle visitors
The Black Watch Castle and Museum is inviting visitors to delve into the world of First World War soldiers by exploring a full size replica trench located in their grounds.
Starting tomorrow until Sunday, January 8, between 1-3pm, the castle team will be on hand to share the story of First World War trench living.
Visitors can learn about the structure, design and evolution of the trench systems, discover an observation post, dugout, shelter and stand on the firing step.
And you can gain an understanding of what the soldiers would have worn and how they may have spent their days and nights during the trench rotations.
Shonagh Lowerson-Head, learning and audience officer at the Castle and Museum said: “In truth we will never know for certain what life was like for a solider in the trenches, and indeed the experience would have been different for each soldier.
“Conditions would have varied depending on where the men were stationed and the campaigns they were involved with at the time.
“However, our replica trench creates an amazing opportunity for visitors to investigate the structure and, with the knowledge of the castle team, create an informed imagery of the daily routine and challenges faced by the soldiers 100 years ago.”
The trench experience is yet another poignant focus to the castle and museum’s continuing programme to commemorate the centenary year of the Great War.
The structure of the castle’s replica trench was constructed over five days, on site, using timber frames and wire gambion with the exterior wrapped in hessian.
It stands approximately three metres above the ground and includes an observation post, dug out, shelter and firing step.
Visitors can learn about the structure, design and evolution of the trench systems
The replica trench has been created to give an atmospheric, thoughtprovoking insight of what everyday life may have been like for soldiers living and fighting in the trenches.
It was called on during a popular festival day earlier in the winter where story telling helped visitors get a taste of the installation.
The replica trench system was designed by independent military historian, author and broadcaster Andy Robertshaw, who has appeared on Channel 4’s Time Team and was a military advisor on the film War Horse. A similar structure can be viewed at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent.
The castle and museum’s replica trench is thought to be the only one if its kind in Scotland.